Partner Sexual Health Project (PSH Project)

Lok Swasthya entered into a partnership with the AIDS Control Society (ACS), Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, in 2001 to initiate this project in Ahmedabad City. The target areas included Behrampura, Asarva, Girdharnagar, Meghaninagar and Chamanpura.

PSH was a unique model for the control of HIV/AIDS, wherein a strong network has been built up with 20 NGOs who work in synergy with the ACS.

The objectives of the project were:

To prevent HIV/AIDS among high-risk and low-risk groups.

To provide care and support to people living with HIV/AIDS.

To build capacity in the city and within society to manage the programme.

To collaborate with other sectors for capacity building and training.

The following activities were carried out in the project:

One-to-one sessions

Street plays

Information Education Communication

Behavior change counseling

STD detection and treatment

Condom promotion

Networking

The impact of the project included the following:

Increased awareness levels in community members about the causes of HIV/AIDS, and its spread.

Greater willingness on the part of the community to address the issue of HIV/AIDS indicating effective penetration of social barriers.

Acceptance of HIV/AIDS as an issue and a threat.

Shift in health seeking behavior as evident from the increased number of patients seeking treatment for STDs.